Dear Friends,Happy 2022 to all. I hope you celebrated the start of 2022 well and in good spirits. For my part, I got Covid, despite being fully vaccinated and boosted. I suppose it was about time. Better now, I warmly welcome you to a fresh new year and look forward to sharing what we can learn and do together in 2022.In 2022, the eKitabu team is excited to build a community with parents, teachers, students, and stakeholders in inclusive education. In December, we held a conversation on Zoom with people who joined a new program we have been working on for the past three years and launched in 2020 during the pandemic: the Family Of the Year Award (FOYA). FOYA supports family members' engagement in their children’s learning and works to build community with parents and caregivers sharing ideas and challenges.Here are a few of the voices we heard in that meeting:“Zuri was born with congenital disabilities, she communicates with sign language and I have been helping her to develop her speech. She started walking at 3 years old after another parent advised us to take her to a playgroup center.” Joyce Nduta Ndung’u, parent to Zuri Norah, student at Acorn Special Tutorial in Dagoretti, Nairobi County.“Trosky was born normally but along the way we discovered that he was suffering from autistic spectrum disorder. His major challenge is speech development and inability to socialise with others. We took him to a special unit school at Kapkoros where we've been receiving a lot of support and encouragement. We have also been supporting Trosky at home as much as possible. He is my best friend at home.” Aggrey Wafula, parent to Trosky Wafula, student at Kapkoros Primary School Special Unit in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.“I didn't expect to win the FOYA 2021. I don't have anything planned, this was a surprise for me. I am really humbled. Thank you for making this mother baby proud and all the work that I have done has not been in vain.” Marble Mwachirembe parent to Myles Munga, student at Kinderville Junior School in Sabaki, Machakos County.I welcome you to get in touch with us at support@ekitabu.com to know more about eKitabu or to work together this year. Karibuni sana.Warmest regards,Will[su_button url="https://mailchi.mp/6d010140365c/ekitabu-tunaenda-digital-newsletter-january-2022" target="blank" background="#e80904" color="#ffffff" size="5" radius="0"]Read the entire newsletter here[/su_button]